1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rasp
Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 5 June 2025
The soulful rasp of his voice bellowed through the open-roof into the Nashville night.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025
Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
While Mullan’s natural voice shares Shankly’s rasping quality, their inflexions are different.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Noun
Of all of Cyrus’s vocal gifts, perhaps the most pronounced is her rare ability to add a rasp to any line without ever sacrificing volume.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 5 June 2025
The soulful rasp of his voice bellowed through the open-roof into the Nashville night.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025
Verb
The Argentina legend stepped up and rasped the ball into the top corner.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
While Mullan’s natural voice shares Shankly’s rasping quality, their inflexions are different.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
-
Note that abrasive brushes or sponges will leave small scratches on the surface, but, unlike with a nonstick pan, the scratches won’t damage the pan’s long-term efficacy.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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This gap between theory and practice often means that business leaders are at a loss for essentials, like how to build a marketing team from scratch, how to connect marketing with sales or how to create a system that delivers consistent results rather than ad-hoc campaigns.—
Christine Pilkington,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Add a dab of liquid detergent to remaining stains and lightly rub it in.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
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The sports star shared another full-length shot of the couple — who currently reside in Oslo — with their arms around each other on the same white sands, while a third closer-up image showed the couple smiling and rubbing noses.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The product scrapes the insect, removing oils and fats from the outside of the insect's body.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
To add details, etch swooping lines around the holes by scraping away the pumpkin's outer skin to create contrast.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Don't push sales and annoy people.—
Nitin Gupta,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Comments about my fast walk annoy me.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The photo released shows what appears to be a man wearing a largely black outfit with an American flag on his shirt, a black cap, and black sunglasses.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Posing next to Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek Pinault (who wore an elegant black Balenciaga suit dress), Moore’s glitzy look shone.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Inside the Sámi church, centuries-old wood creaks under candlelight—while at Nutti Sámi Siida (a reindeer lodge offering traditional Sámi experiences), visitors sip warm lingonberry juice and listen to joik songs.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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As the jurors exited the courtroom, the only sound was the creak of the swinging gate.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray is set to hold a news conference to announce the charges against Robinson after they are filed in the late morning and will be made available to the public immediately after that, according to Utah County officials.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
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According to a Manhattan Supreme Court foreclosure suit filed in December that names both Bill and Camille, the pair stopped making payments on the loans in June 2024 in addition to failing to pay over $300,000 in property taxes.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Power gains are bugged to be too low for a new power grind that no one wants to do anyway.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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On average, the matador bugs increased their waving behavior seven times more in the presence of the predatory mantids.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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